Improvement in reaping and mowing machines



rUNITI-3D STATEs PATENT OFFICEo H. G. VANDERERKEN, OF GREENBUSH, NEW YORK.

lMPROVEMENT IN' REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 18,829, dated December 8, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY Gr. VANDER- WERKEN, of Greenbusli,in the county 0f Renssclaer and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Reapingand Mowing Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is a side view of a reaper with my improvements applied to it. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, and Fig. 3 a vertical section of the same. Y

Similar letters of referencein each of the several figures indicate corresponding parts.

The nature of my invention consists in arranging the large internal spur-gear fast in an auxiliary frame and attaching said frame to the main or reaper frame and using the same, thus arranged, in combination with a series of planetary wheels which have their axes on the inner face of the propelling-wheel and gear with a central transmitting-pinion made loose on the shaft of the propelling-wheel. By thus arranging the large internal spur -gear the frame of the reaper is provided with acircular brace of great strength, which binds the frame together and keepsit perfectly firm and steady, and also leaves a free and open space for the operation of the planetary gearing within its inner toothed circumference, and, besides this, the auxiliary frame, besides supporting the large internal spur-gear, serves as a runner or guard to the said wheel, and prevents a Achance of dirt collecting in the teeth of the gearing and interfering with its perfect operation. The large internal spur-gear, thus arranged, likewise admits of the wellknown planetary' system of gearing being employed, and thus the force of resistance between the large internal spur-gear -and the planetary pinions is in a great measure overcome, owing to each of thegear-wheelshavingarolling motion on its axis independently ofthe propellingwheel, and therefore when applied to the reaping-machine the propelling-wheel of said machine, which is actuated by contact with the soil, can be operated with very little power or labor on the part of-the team. The speed of thc cutter-bar will also be increased, owing to the center wheel revolving on its axis at` the same time that the intermediate gearwheels revolve round it, and thus performing one revolution more than would be due to itif the outer inte rnall y-geared wheel were revolved with the A represents the main frame, with shafts B,4

B extending forward.v

C is the'drivingor propelling wheel. Itrnns upon the ground as usual, havingitsaxis at E.

A represents the auxiliary frame. It consists of two verticalposts, aa, and a transverse runner or guard, ct. The vertical posts (tu are. attached fast to the front and rear ends of the main frame in such position that the runner or guard shalljust touch upon the ground.

F represents the internal spur-gear. It is attached firmly to the outer face of the posts a a and runner ct. ABy being thus attached to the auxiliary frame A', which is in fact a part of the main frame, the frame is provided with a circular' brace, which will keep it firm and steady under almost all circumstances, and the chance of dirt collecting between the gearing will be effectually prevented by the ruimer or guard a. i

G- is the center transmitting-pinion. pinion is fitted loosely on the shaft or axisEot' the driving-wheel, so that it may revolve freely independently of said shaft or axis.

H H El are three intermediate spur-wheels, which are furnished with axes on the face of the driving or propelling wheel. These spurwheels revolve on theirown axis and still move round' with the propelling-wheel. The teeth of the loose pinion and the teeth of the stationary rim F gearinto these spur-wheels,and thus when the propelling-wheel revolves the spur-wheels are set in motion by the resistance of the teeth ofthe rim and the pinion driven rapidly bythe motion acquired by the spur-wheels through the resistance of the teeth of the rims.

I is a sleeve or collar fastened to the pinion G so as to revolve with it. This sleeve, like the pinion, tits loosely over the axis or Shaft This E of the driving or propelling wheel. On the sleeve or collar an eccentric, b, is formed,and

. round this eccentric a ring or loop, e, of the vertical rod d of an elbow-lever, J, is fitted loosely. the cutter-bar K is pivoted, as at e.

The parts thus arranged operate as follows: The machine being set in motion, the propel; lin g-wheel carries the spur-wheels round in a circle, While the stationary rim causes each of them to revolve on its own axis. In revolving they impart a rapid motion to the pinion and the camattached, which latter consequently vibratesvertically the elbow-lever and causes l n it to impart a rapid horizontal vibrating motion to the cutter-bar.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to *secure by Letters Patent, is To the inner lower end of this lever n The combination of the stationary and brac` ing,` gear F with the auxiliary frame A', main fra-Ine A, driving-wheel C, and pinions H G, arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

H. G. VANDER WERKEN.

l Witnesses:

G. YORKE AT LEE, J. P. J AooBs. 

